Health insurance when moving to Iceland

Individuals who move to Iceland are responsible for reporting the move to Iceland Health. An application for registration in the insurance register must be completed and submitted to the Iceland Health if the move is within the EEA countries. In general, individuals will be health insured six months after they have registered their residence in Iceland according to the National Registry.

Persons who move from EEA countries, the United Kingdom or Switzerland may bring with them insurance rights if they have been insured in the country of previous residence. When an application for registration in the insurance register is submitted and individuals state that they have been insured in the country of previous EEA residence, Iceland Health contacts the insurance institution of individuals in the country of previous residence. When a response is received from the insurance institution in the country of previous residence on the insurance rights of individuals, Icelandic Health Insurance can, as the case may be, provide health insurance for individuals.

Deployed employees to Iceland
EEA nationals, UK or Swiss citizens who are temporarily posted to work in Iceland by their employer or who are self-employed can remain covered by the social security system of the country from which they come. A so-called S1 certificate must be submitted to Iceland Health from their country of insurance in order to obtain health insurance in Iceland. The basis for issuing an S1 certificate is an A1 certificate which confirms that an employee is covered by the social security legislation of the country of issue.

The S1 certificate is a confirmation that an individual is insured in the country of issue and also a request that an individual be insured in the country of destination at the expense of the country of issue.

The S1 certificate is registered in the insurance register in Iceland and therefore a person becomes a health insured person in systems at healthcare providers in Iceland. A person therefore receives the same rights as other health insured individuals in Iceland while the S1 certificate is valid.

If an individual has not been issued a S1 certificate with an A1 certificate, Iceland Health may request the certificate for the individual. The international affairs of Iceland Health must be contacted and a request for such a certificate must be submitted.

S1 certificates can be submitted by e-mail (international@sjukra.is) or by mail (Iceland Health, International, Vínlandsleið 16, 113 Reykjavík).

If they seek medical assistance, they must present the European Health Insurance Card, which they receive issued in their country of insurance. If a person has a registered S1 certificate, he/she has the right to receive all services as a health insured person in Iceland and therefore does not need to use the European Health Insurance Card in Iceland.

Different rules apply to work and residence permits depending on whether people come from states within or outside the EEA.

The Directorate of Immigration is responsible for issuing work and residence permits.